LSU's Key preparing for Rebels' 'basketball on grass'

At his weekly press conference, LSU interim head coach previews the Tigers' upcoming game against Ole Miss.
LSU Sports Information

Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA;
LSU linebacker Arden Key (49) looks at the scoreboard as the last play of the game was being reviewed. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13 at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports(Photo11: John Reed, John Reed-USA TODAY Sports)

Rebels coach Hugh Freeze has handed the keys of his fast-paced offense to quarterback Chad Kelly this season to tremendous results, with Kelly experiencing a standout senior campaign in which he’s directed Ole Miss’ offense to the top of the SEC in pass offense with 320 yards a game. Kelly leads the league in passing yards per game with 308 and is third in passing efficiency at 152.4 on 133-of-213 passing for 1,849 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions.

It isn’t just the speed at which Ole Miss runs its plays, but the pressure it puts on individual defenders in space that makes the Rebels so difficult to stop.

“This is basketball on grass. You need to have guys who can make plays in space,” said LSU interim coach Ed Orgeron. “Freeze runs the plays very fast, one of the fastest that we've seen. The ability to see what the defense does, the ability to call the plays from the sideline, the ability to adjust. He's innovative on offense. He can run the football, spread you out and run the football, run the counter, run the power. He's a really good spread offense coach.”

“It’s very similar to other offenses we’ve seen so far,” Key said. “They have the style like Texas A&M, Missouri and Jacksonville State, things we have seen before, so we know what to expect.”

Pressure is something the Rebels have struggled with this season.

“(Chad) Kelly is a good quarterback. But I’m looking to get him. I feel like I’m going to get him.”

Arden Key, LSU defensive end

Through five games, Ole Miss had allowed 59 pressures on Kelly in 196 dropbacks, according to College Football Film Room. On those 59 pressures, Kelly has been sacked nine times and hit an additional 19 times.

Key alone has 38 quarterback pressures this season through 156 pass rush snaps, according to College Football Focus.

LSU quarterback Danny Etling, on the other hand, has been pressured 20 times on 81 dropbacks through five games, only being sacked four times.

Key said he was looking forward to going against an offense that dropped back to pass so many times, especially without the guy Key had to match up with last year as a freshman. That was first team All-SEC offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, who is now playing with the Miami Dolphins as their first round pick of the 2016 NFL Draft as the 13th overall pick.

“This game, I feel like I’m supposed to have three sacks. I don’t see a Laremy Tunsil out there,” Key said. “We went back and forth last year, but I feel like they aren’t going to be able to block me. Kelly is a good quarterback. But I’m looking to get him. I feel like I’m going to get him.”

Key said the matchup against Tunsil last season helped him develop into a better pass rusher and that he embraces the competition against top offensive linemen and looked forward to hopefully seeing Tunsil again one day.

“He was different, he was athletic. His footwork was amazing,” Key said. “I would do a couple of moves, and he would still be in front of me. I was like, 'You aren’t supposed to be there.' So I had to go into the tool box and dig out some more tools. I like Laremy, I wish I could see him again this Saturday, but I have to wait.”